Digital Photo Storage, Picture Storage, Photo Backup | PhotoStorageGuide.com | How to Archive your Photos Using Windows XP

Important:

What you need   

Your computer with a CD/DVD burner
CD-R or DVD+/-R media 
A permanent felt-tip marker or a way to label your discs and cases

Make sure all of your photos are stored in the “My Pictures” folder on your computer. You may want to organize them into subfolders by year or person. This is completely up to you, but you have to be consistent. Remember, you may need to search through years of archives to find that one photo you’re looking for.

Instructions:

1. Determine how many CD’s or DVD’s you will need.
   • Right click the “My Pictures” folder
   • Then click “Properties”
   • Click the “General” tab
   • The size of the folder will determine how many CD’s or DVD’s you need to back up your photos.
       • Standard CD-R discs hold 700 MB of data
       • Standard DVD-R discs hold 4.7 GB of data
   
   
   Most likely, you will only need one DVD; (since they hold about 1900 photos each). If your file is too large, you will have to select sub-folders and burn multiple discs.
    
2. Find and open your burning (recording) software. (If you don’t know the name of your software, this will be the hardest part.)
   • Click “Start”
   • Click “Programs”
   • Find the software name and click it
    
    
3. Burn your disc (These instructions may very slightly depending on the software. Follow the software’s prompts.)
   • Select “Data Disc”
   • Insert a blank disc into the drive. Your software will prompt you when it is time to do this.
   • Browse and select the “My Pictures” folder on your hard drive.
   • Click “Burn”
   
   
   
   • In a few minutes, the drive will complete the burning process and eject the disc.
4. Put the disc back in the drive or take it to another computer and verify the files on the disc.
5. Label the disc, put it in a jewel case or video box, and label both the spine and front.
6. Repeat this process so you have a minimum of 2 copies. (The more copies, the better.)
7. Store your archive offsite, at a relative’s house, the office, or a safe deposit box.
8. Update your archives twice a year, possibly spring and fall, or after a special occasion (birthday, reunion, etc.)